If you are interested in presenting your research at this symposium, please send abstracts (250-350 words) to Emmanuel Adu-Ampong (e.adu-ampong@sheffield.ac.uk) with a copy to tourismresearchnetwork@sheffield.ac.ukAbstracts are accepted on any topic in tourism/leisure/hospitality in general but must be based on ongoing PhD research/thesis/dissertation. Spaces are limited and abstracts are reviewed and accepted on a first come first served basis. Priority will be given to 3rd/4th year PhD students over 2nd years over 1st years. The first deadline for abstracts is 29th January, 2016. Please include a short bio stating your year of study.

Symposium Format

The activities for this symposium are designed to ensure that the day is as interactive and informative as possible for all attendees. The main sessions on the day will be:

Workshops/Panel Discussion

Experienced academics will give a short presentation (20 minutes) followed by the opportunity for attendees to ask questions leading to an interactive discussion on a range of issues. There will be four workshops/panel discussions throughout the day on the following topics:

– Getting published in academic journals

– Planning for an academic career

– Research impact (REF) and the future of research

– Preparing for academic job interviews

Paper presentations

Participants with accepted papers will present their research in a paper session. Each presenter will be allotted 15 minutes to present their work and respond to any queries.

Speakers

Dr. Donna Chambers is a Reader in Tourism in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Events at the University of Sunderland, UK. Her experience in tourism spans almost 20 years commencing with the Ministry of Tourism in Jamaica where she worked in various roles, finally as Director of Tourism Administration. She is currently a coordinating editor for Annals of Tourism Research

Prof. Chris Cooper is Professor in the Faculty of Business at Oxford Brookes University, UK and was previously Dean of the Business Faculty and PVC International for the University from 2009-2013. He was awarded the United Nations Ulysses prize for contributions to tourism education and policy in 2009 and is currently the Co-Editor for the journal Current Issues in Tourism.

Dr. Claudia Dolezal is a Lecturer in Tourism at the University of Westminster, UK. She completed her PhD in Tourism and International Development the University of Brighton, UK in June 2015, focusing on empowerment in community-based tourism in Bali. Her research interests are tourism for development and the anthropology of tourism and her geographical research focus is Southeast Asia. Claudia is also part of the Austrian Society for South-East Asian Studies (SEAS) and an editorial board member of the Austrian Journal of South-East Asian Studies (ASEAS).

Prof. Marina Novelli is a Professor of Tourism and International Development at the University of Brighton (UK), where she coordinates the Policy, Practice and Performance in Tourism, Leisure and Sport Group of the Centre of Sport, Tourism and Leisure Studies (CoSTaLS). She is Editor In-Chief for Tourism and Hospitality Research (Journal published by SAGE), Africa Region Editor for Tourism Planning and Development (Journal published by Francis and Taylor)

Prof. Rhodri Thomas is Director of the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism & Hospitality (ICRETH) at Leeds Beckett University, UK. He has recently completed several evaluation studies for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and is a member of their Peer Review College. He is the Editor of the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events and Co-ordinating Editor of the International Journal of Hospitality Management. .